Under bare poles

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Meaning

With every sail furled; figuratively, stripped of the usual means of support or progress. Technical or literary. It does not mean that a vessel has no masts; it means that no sails are spread on them. Regional use: Nautical English; figurative use chiefly literary.

Origin

A sailing vessel is under bare poles when no sail is set and only its masts and rigging meet the wind, typically because conditions are too severe for canvas. The Oxford English Dictionary records the construction from 1697. Figurative use extends the exposed, resource-poor image beyond ships, but the literal nautical sense remains primary.

Research Sources

  1. Bare, adjective, adverb and noun Oxford English Dictionary
  2. Under bare poles Collins Dictionary

Variants

  • Scud under bare poles
  • Lie under bare poles

Usage Examples

  • The brig ran under bare poles while the squall crossed the bay.
  • With both grants withdrawn, the little museum was left under bare poles.
  • They lay under bare poles until the worst of the wind passed.

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